He smiled so widely that his eyes crinkled at the corners, and I wanted to kiss him again. I resisted the temptation because I’d realised that the woman at the front desk was watching us with interest.
“Food?” he asked me.
“I could eat.” Then I paused. “But maybe room service? I…” Oh, sod it. She probably worked long shifts and if it got her through the night, I didn’t mind being the entertainment. “I don’t want anyone else around. Just you.”
He took my hand and we returned to our room. There, we lay on the bed together as we waited for our food. I was sure—well, fairly sure—we weren’t going to spend the rest of our lives gazing into one another’s eyes like this, but for now, nothing else seemed to matter.
NATE
We ate supper on the sofa in front of the window, looking out over the city. Judiciously placed spotlights along with streetlights showed off a skyline that would have been familiar to Jane Austen.
Alex had just put his plate down and relaxed against me with a satisfied sigh when my phone chimed.
I thought the message would be from Bim, updating me. It wasn’t.
“Charlie,” I said, my heart plummeting. “Crap. Ella’s told him.”
She’d only told him half the story, if Charlie’s confused questions were anything to go by.
“I didn’t think you were allowed phones in rehab,” Alex said.
“You’re getting confused with prison,” I told him. Anything to put off the moment when I’d have to confess. Perhaps Alex saw my worry, because he put his arm around me, a warm, comforting weight, while I set out in a text the basics of what had happened.
Charlie didn’t respond for so long that I laid my phone down to run my fingers through Alex’s hair. He appeared to like it, practically snuggling against me. The butterflies in my stomach came back full force when my phone chimed again.
Cannot believe how fuckingstupidmy family is. Glad you’re ok.
I scarcely had time to draw a breath of relief before another message arrived.
Have a nice life with that Cornish dragon, Nate. You deserve it. I bet he’s glowering at the phone right now.
I glanced swiftly at Alex. Perhaps it wasn’t fair to say he was glowering, but he was staring at my phone from beneath lowered brows.
You, too,I sent back, and turned off my phone. I filled Alex in on the content of our texts. I wasn’t going to keep any secrets from him, especially not concerning Charlie.
“He said he hopes I have a nice life with my Cornish dragon,” I told him, my voice somehow hoarse at the phrasing.
“So do I,” Alex said softly, and kissed me.
ALEX
I awoke next morning to Nate curled up around me and something unmistakeable poking against my arse. When I turned in his hold, he greeted me with a kiss. A kiss that started as a good morning, and ended up deep, open-mouthed andneeding.Kissing Nate like this was like setting a flame to dry kindling.
He eventually relinquished my mouth. I wanted to keep kissing him, but I also knew what his move meant, and I was breathless with anticipation. Having encouraged me onto my back, he worked his way down my body with licks and kisses before positioning himself between my open legs. He looked at my very awake, very ready cock with deep appreciation.
“Did you just say good morning to my—ungh,” I said articulately, as he slid his mouth down on my cock and just kept going. Nate was going to kill me.
As he sucked me, he reached up and pinched my nipples until I was writhing with pleasure and need, unable to bear the sensations. He finally pulled off, his lips dark and wet, his pupils so large as he looked at me that his eyes were almost black with desire. He was beautiful.
I drew him back up the bed, then I flipped him over, where he landed with a laugh, and it was my turn to work my way down his body. He spread his thighs in invitation.
Damn.“Lube,” I said. How the hell could I have forgotten—oh yes. Nate had basically sucked my brains out. I was excused.
He passed me the bottle, and when I took it from him, I held onto his hand for a moment, pressing a kiss against his strong fingers. “Love you,” I said, and his smile was so soft as he looked at me.
“You, too,” he murmured, then he gasped, arching up. “Fuck!”
Maybe I should have basked in his declaration of love a little longer before putting my mouth to his cock, but that was okay—we had the rest of our lives to practice getting that right.
